Staffordshire Oatcake

Submitted by Heather Sullivan

"My friend got this recipe from a tourist leaflet but I've changed it to use quick(breadmaker) yeast so I can have oatcakes quickly! Staffordshire oatcakes are nothing like Scottish oatcakes. These are large, soft and holey.. like a combination crumpet and crepe. Fill as you would crepes, usually the fillings are bacon and cheddar, cheddar and onion, or even cheddar and baked beans (British ones are a lot less sweet than "Boston" ones). I usually have one or two for lunch, they're extremely filling and cheap to make. Usually only found around Stoke-on-Trent and not all over Staffordshire."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 8
• Yields: 11-12 8inch oatcakes

ingredients

• 225 g porridge oats (oatmeal)
• 100 g whole wheat flour (wholewheat)
• 100 g plain flour (all-purpose white)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon quick-rising yeast
• 450 ml warm water
• 450 ml warm milk (can use nonfat/skimmed fine)

directions

1. Place the porridge oats(oatmeal) in a food processor and process just until fine.
2. Mix the ground oatmeal, wholemeal(whole wheat)flour and plain (white) flour together in a bowl with the salt, sugar, and quick yeast.
3. Warm the milk and water together until you can hold your finger in it for 10 seconds without going "OW!" - then it should be warm enough but not hot enough to kill the yeast.
4. Mix the warm, milky water in with the dry ingredients and whisk.
5. Leave to rise and plump in bowl for 40minutes.
6. Heat a nonstick frying pan over medium heat.
7. Whisk the batter a little then pour about 3/4cup of the batter into the hot pan, swirling it around. DO NOT TRY TO SPREAD THE BATTER WITH ANYTHING. You'll just end up with a mess. If it's funny-shaped, that's how it will be.
8. Cook until edges become dry, the underside of the oatcake is golden brown and the oatcake on top looks mostly dry and solidified all the way to the centre.
9. Flip and cook until golden brown on the other side.
10. Place oatcake on rack to cool. When they're completely cold you can stack them. Repeat with remaining batter.
11. They should keep well for a day or two in the fridge or a few months in the freezer. When freezing, place waxed paper or plastic wrap between each oatcake for easier separation later.
12. Usually to fill them, you reheat or toast them until warm under a grill(broiler) on both sides then add your cheese, etc, and put back under the grill until the cheese has melted.

Reviews

[Cal M.]

I live in Stoke-On-Trent aka the potteries and these oatcakes are good, oatcakes which have little taste themselves can be eaten with anything, bacon, cheese, jam, onion they can be eaten raw or toasted, chillies and cheese, honey and squirty cream it`s upto you what you put inside them

 

[kwright07]

this is a fantastic recipe - I used it many times this winter when butcher failed to deliver (that is where we get our oatcakes from in Derbyshire). Quick, easy, cheap and tastes even better than bought.

 

[najwa]

This is good and different .. My husband liked them .. they are simple to make and very soft, but bland without any filling .. I added some minced onion to about half the batter and thought they were better that way .. thank you